World Cup hosts South Africa hold Mexico to 1-1 draw

Hosts South Africa launched their Fifa World Cup campaign with a gritty display by holding strong contenders Mexico to a 1-1 draw in a thrilling Group-A league opener in Johannesburg today.

Backed by a vociferous home crowd, the hosts very nearly pulled off an upset victory by snatching the lead early in the second session but the Mexicans restored parity late in the half to save the blushes in a keenly contested game at the magnificent Soccer City stadium.

After a barren opening session, the hosts sent the nearly capacity crowd into a frenzy by taking the lead barely five minutes into the second half with midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala producing a gem of a goal. 

After receiving a superb through pass, Tshabalala pierced through the defence with deft footwork and unleashed a booming
pile-driver which sailed past the Mexican custodian Oscar Perez.

The goal virtually served as a tonic for the hosts as they suddenly looked a transformed side and kept their fancied opponents under pressure with a barrage of attacks.

But the euphoria of taking the lead did not last long with the Mexicans finding the equaliser in the 79th minute when defender Rafael Marquez found the target, much to the relief of his teammates.

The equaliser was the result of a measured cross from Andres Guardado which found an unmarked Marquez lurking inside the South African box. The Barcelona defender took his time and slotted in from close range, giving custodian Itumeleng Khune no chance at all.

The South Africans, however, got a chance to tilt the balance in their favour in the 89th minute of the contest when striker Katlego Mphela broke through the defence but his shot hit the upright with the rival custodian out of position. But the story had been markedly different in the first session which was largely dominated by the Mexicans despite being well below par.

The Mexicans, who have made 14 appearances in the World cup finals, appeared a trifle nervous but still enjoyed territorial advantage in the fast-paced opening session with a series of raids.

The Mexicans could have fired the first salvo as early as the second minute of the contest when striker Giovani Dos Santos broke through the shaky South African defence but his attempt missed the target.

Ten minutes later, the Mexicans saw another chance go abegging when striker Guillermo Franco's header off a measured cross from Santos flew over the crosspiece.
 
The hosts were kept on tenterhooks by their rivals who initiated a series of raids from both the flanks but lacked the finishing touch to open their account in the first session.

The game was mainly confined to the South African half in the first half though the 'Bafana Bafana', as the home team is called, did manage to make a couple of forays into the rival citadel but without looking dangerous.

The Mexicans frittered away another chance in the 34th minute when Franco pierced through the defence following a clever through pass from Carlos Vela but failed to control the ball close to the South African goalmouth.

On another occasion, Vela found himself in a good position inside the penalty area but got caught in two minds and his cross-shot drifted wide.

Spurred on by a vociferous home crowd, the hosts tightened up their defence in the later stages of the first half and came close to scoring twice in quick succession in the dying minutes of the session.

South Africa's Tshabalala initiated the move with a lovely cross from the flank to forward Katiego Mphela who failed to connect his header much to the dismay of the cheering home crowd.